The White Coat and the Physician: A Snapshot of the Physicians’ Perspective | Chapter 10 | Innovations in Medicine and Medical Research Vol. 1
Background: The white coat is synonymous with medical profession and helps for easy identification by patients and colleagues. Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine doctors’ perception on mode of dressing of their colleagues, especially wearing of white coats and its influence on the well being of their patients. Methods: A structured self administered questionnaire was used to collect information from the doctors of all carder in the hospital during the study period. Three photographs, a man with corporate attire and tie without ward coat and the same man with corporate attire and tie with a white coat and same man with casual dressing, were shown to the doctors, and were asked which of the three pictures they would like a doctor to dress. Results: Majority 200 (72.5%) of the respondents had a white coat on as at the time they were filling the questionnaire while only 76 (27.5%) were not putting on lab coat. Also 202 (75.9%) of t...